Deep Water Offshore Wind Energy

By Paul D. Sclavounos

Horns Rev Wind Farm (Denmark) - Rated Power 160 MW – Water Depth 10-15m

Magnitude of Wind Resource

• Total World Installed Capacity: 40GW (2003)• Total Offshore Installed Wind Capacity: 493 MW• Global Annual Electricity Generation from Wind: 67 TWh• Wind Energy Sector Annual Growth: 25-30%

US Offshore Wind Capacity

• Total Installed Capacity (2003): 6.4 GW• Shallow Water Resource (0-30m): <100 GW• Deep Water Resource (30-100m; 20-50 miles):>800 GW

Deep Water Offshore Wind Farms

• Wind Speeds Higher and Less Variable• Floating Wind Turbines• Water Depths in the range of 30-300m• Draw Upon Experience of Oil & Gas Industry• Placement of Offshore Wind Farms Near Major Centers• Easier Integration to Robust Electric Grids• Reduced Visual Effects and Noise

Specifications of 5MW Wind Turbine

• Wind Regime: Class 6 Winds (>8 m/s)• Control: Variable Speed-Individual Blade Pitch• Rotor Diameter 126 m• Hub Height 90 m• Max Rotor/Generator rpm 12.1 rpm / 1,173 rpm• Maximum Blade Tip Speed 80 m/s• Rotor Efficiency (3 Blades) 45%• Blade Solidity 4%• Rotor Mass 110,000 kg• Nacelle Mass 250,000 kg• Tower Mass 347,460 kg• Total Turbine Mass 707,460 kg• Center of Gravity Height64 m

Floating Wind Turbines

Tidal Energy

Areas of Research and Education

• Unsteady Aerodynamics• Structural Dynamics• Gear Box and Electric Generator Dynamics• Optimal Control of Pitch Regulated Floating Turbines• Floating Wind Turbine Engineering System Design• Wind Turbine Manufacturing, Assembly & Deployment • Wind Farm Cost Minimization• Optimal Wind Farm Operation - Electricity Dispatch